FIRE-PROTECTION OF NATIVE BUSH

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1920, Page 13

FIRE-PROTECTION OF NATIVE BUSH

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The statement in to-day's issue of the Evening Post and in the morning papers has the appearance of being official. We trust it is, and welcome it a3 showmg- that the City Council has abandoned the old attitude of, leaving the native bush near Wellington to takeTcare of itself. In the council's praise of its officials, Messrs., Mackenzie and Dick wo neartily concur. Sir. Dick lias his heart in his work, and if anyone doubts Mr. • Mackenzie's ability as a gardener ho has only to, visit tho Botanical Gardens. All Wellingtonians who love flowers must bo grateful to him for his show of begonias. The matter, however, muafc be carried a- step further, and ihis can perhaps be made clearest by taking' an illustration. One reads of Eastern towns that have been in a chronic state of getting half-burnt-down at intervals. Bismillah; it is» the will of Allah! Then has come the war and an awakening. A fire brigade' like those in the cities of the heretics is proposed. Two of the most intelligent o&cials promise to take the matter in hand and conduct experiments; but the new-bora press takes the matter up, and * 1- S, tmaliy decided to procure a man straight away who has a' practical knowledge of fire brigades and their working At tins juncture the City Council and Keserves Committee of Wellington have two courses open to them: (1) To send ■ Aleasis Mackenzie and Dick abroad to study the hrs-protection of the forest in countries where it has long been successfully carried out; (2) to obtain a trained forester from, abroad. Tho litter. course, on the whole, seems the most useful and economical. If we want to make a railway, we employ a railway engineer; if wo want a good garden, a professional gardener; if wo, want a fire-protected forest, a professional forester. It is understood that an influential deputation will seek an audience of the .Mayor on his return, so as to thresh the matter out, and get the fullest official approval to whatever course of action be resolved on.—l am, etc, „.,, ■ „ EFFICIENCY. 84th March.